Bowl for filter assemblies

ABSTRACT

A filter assembly comprises a housing defining an internal volume. A housing second end of the housing defines at least one female thread. A bowl is positioned at the housing second end The bowl comprises at least one bowl male thread structured to engage the at least one female thread of the housing so as to be coupled thereto.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/343,120, filed Apr. 18, 2019, which is a national stage ofPCT Application No. PCT/US2016/058062, filed Oct. 21, 2016, the contentswhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to filtration systems for usein filtering fluids such as fuel and the like.

BACKGROUND

Internal combustion engines generally combust a mixture of fuel (e.g.,diesel, gasoline, natural gas, etc.) and air. Prior to entering theengine, the fuel is typically passed through a filter element to removeparticulate matter (e.g., dust, metal particles, debris, etc.) from thefuel prior to combustion. Similarly, lubricant or lube (e.g., engineoil) provided to the engine may also be passed through a filter elementso as to remove particulate matter from the lube before communicating tothe engine. The fuel or oil may include water, which may accumulate inthe filter and may have to be removed.

Filter assemblies generally comprise one or more nut plates configuredto be positioned on a first end or a second end of a housing of thefilter assembly. The nut plates are structured to provide a mechanismfor coupling of a filter head to a first end of the housing of thefilter assembly, or provide coupling of a cover or bowl to a bottom endof the filter housing. The one or more nut plates introduce additionalparts into the filter assembly and may increase manufacturing complexityand manufacturing cost of such filters.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein relate generally to filter assembliescomprising a housing have a plurality of female threads positioned on abottom or second end thereof, and a clear bowl which comprises malethreads configured to be removably coupled to the housing.

In some embodiments, a filter assembly comprises a housing defining aninternal volume. A housing second end of the housing defines at leastone female thread. A bowl is positioned at the housing second end. Thebowl comprises at least one bowl male thread structured to engage the atleast one female thread of the housing so as to be coupled thereto.

It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing conceptsand additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided suchconcepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being partof the subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinationsof claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure arecontemplated as being part of the subject matter disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

References are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part ofthis disclosure, and which illustrate the embodiments in which thesystems and methods described in this specification can be practiced.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a filter assembly, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 2A is a side cross-sectional view of the filter assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a partial cross-sectional exploded view of the filterassembly of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3A is a side view, and FIG. 3B is a top view, of a bowl included inthe filter assembly of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a bottom or second end of thefilter assembly of FIG. 1 to show female threads positioned on an innersurface of the second end of a housing of the filter assembly of FIG. 1, and a sealing member positioned between the bowl and the housing.

FIG. 5A is a side cross-sectional view of a first end or top end of thehousing of FIG. 1 opposite the second or bottom end of the filterassembly; FIG. 5B is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of a firstend cap of the filter assembly; and Fla 5C is a side cross-sectionalview of a portion of the filter assembly of FIG. 1 , with the first endcap positioned within an internal volume of the housing first end, afirst end sealing member positioned between the housing and the firstend cap, and a filter head screwed onto the housing first end.

FIG. 6A is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of the housing firstend of the filter assembly showing a protrusion extending radially fromthe first end cap structured to engage a top surface of the ledgedefined on the housing; and FIG. 6B is another side cross-sectional viewof the portion of the housing first end showing a clip of the first endcap structured to engage a bottom surface of the ledge so as to securethe filter element within the internal volume of the housing.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B each show a cross-sectional views of a portion ofthe housing first end of the filter assembly and the filter cartridgeduring the installation process.

FIG. 8 is another side cross-sectional view of a portion of the housingfirst end showing a fluid inlet defined in the first end cap.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the first end cap of the filter assemblyof FIG. 1 .

FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a filterassembly.

FIG. 11 is a top, perspective view of the filter assembly of FIG. 10 .

FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of the filterassembly of FIG. 10 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One example embodiment relates to a filter assembly. The filter assemblycomprises a housing have a plurality of female threads positioned on abottom or second end thereof, and a clear bowl. The clear bowl comprisesmale threads configured to be removably coupled to the housing.

In some arrangements, the filter assembly described herein that comprisea housing having a bottom bowl. The housing including the male andfemale threads, and/or the first end plate may provide benefitsincluding, for example: (1) allowing direct coupling of the bowl and thefilter head to the housing, thereby allowing exclusion of nut platesbetween the bowl and the housing second end of the filter assembly, andbetween the filter head and the housing first end of the housing; (2)molding one or more female or male threads into the housing so as tosimplify manufacturing of the filter assembly; (3) forming a groove viaa combination of a ledge defined in a sidewall of a housing first end ofthe housing, a protrusion extending from a sidewall of a first end capof the filter element, and a circumferential groove defined in thefilter head within which a first end sealing member may be positionedfor sealing the first end cap to the housing and filter head; and (4)reducing a manufacturing cost of assembly cost of the filter assembly byreducing the number of parts included in the filter assembly. In somearrangements, the bottom bowl may be clear, transparent, or translucent.In other arrangements, the bottom bowl is opaque.

Another example embodiment relates to a shell housing for a filterelement. The shell housing comprises a sidewall having a first end and asecond end. The sidewall defines an internal volume configured toreceive the filter element. The first end comprises at least oneoutwardly facing male thread configured to removably secure the shellhousing to a filter head. The second end comprises at least one inwardlyfacing female thread configured to removably secure a bowl to the secondend. The shell housing further comprises a plurality of indentationsformed on an outer surface of the sidewall.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2A is a side cross-sectional view,and FIG. 2B is a partial cross-sectional exploded view, of a filterassembly 100. The filter assembly 100 comprises a housing 102, a filterelement 110 and a bowl 130.

The housing 102 defines an internal volume within which the filterelement 110 is positioned. The housing 102 may be formed from a strongand rigid material, for example plastics (e.g., polypropylene, highdensity polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, etc.), metals (e.g., aluminum,stainless steel, etc.), or any other suitable material. In particularembodiments, the housing 102 may comprise a cylindrical housing havinggenerally a circular cross-sectional. In other embodiments, the housing102 may have any suitable shape, for example square, rectangular,polygonal, etc.

The housing 102 comprises a housing top or first end 101 and a housingbottom or second end 103. The housing first end 101 comprises at leastone male thread 106 provided on an outer surface thereof. In somearrangements, the at least one male thread 106 is stamped into thehousing 102. In other arrangements, the at least one male thread 106 maybe molded or otherwise formed into a sidewall of the housing 102. Thehousing second end 103 comprises at least one female thread 108 (FIG. 4). The bowl 130 is positioned at the housing second end 103, andcomprises at least one bowl male thread 136 structured to engage the atleast one female thread 108 of the housing 102 so as to be coupled tothe housing second end 103.

A plurality of indentations 104 or depressions may be formed on an outersurface of the housing second end 103. For example, the plurality ofindentations 104 may comprise axial indentations definedcircumferentially about the housing second end 103. The plurality ofindentations 104 may be positioned with any suitable spacing betweeneach adjacent indentation (i.e., any positioned at any suitable pitch).The plurality of indentations 104 may serve to facilitate gripping ofthe housing 102 for coupling and/or uncoupling the housing, for exampleto a filter head (e.g., the filter head 180 or 280 described herein).

A portion 109 of the sidewall of the housing 102 at the housing secondend 103 may be folded inwards and positioned within the internal volumeof the housing 102 parallel to the plurality of indentations 104. Insome embodiments, the portion 109 of the sidewall may be positioned suchthat a gap G is defined between the plurality of indentations 104 andthe portion 109 of the sidewall. In other embodiments, the portion 109may be positioned flush with or abutting the plurality of indentations104 so as to eliminate the gap G. A ledge may extend from an end of theportion 109 of the sidewall towards a longitudinal axis AL of the filterassembly 100. The ledge may be positioned within the internal volume ofthe housing 102 and may form the at least one female thread 108.Accordingly, the at least one female thread 108 is an internally facingfemale thread 108. The female thread 108 may be formed during a deepdraw machining process used to form the housing 102. In somearrangements, the female thread 108 includes two threads per turn.

As described above, the bowl 130 comprises at least one bowl male thread136 on an outer surface thereof. The at least one bowl male thread 136is structured to removably engage the at least one female thread 108,for example provided by the ledge formed by the end of the portion 109of the sidewall of the housing 102, so as to be coupled to the housingsecond end 103. Accordingly, the bowl 130 can be reused with multipledifferent housings 102 (e.g., during filter servicing, the bowl 130 canbe removed from a used housing 102, which is discarded, and reattachedto a new housing 102 having the mating internal female thread 108). Insome arrangements, the bowl 130 may be formed from at least one of atranslucent or a transparent material, for example, thin plastic,plexiglass, acrylic, etc. The transparent, substantially transparent ortranslucent bowl 130 may allow a user to visually observe if water orany other contaminants are accumulated in the bowl 130. In otherarrangements, the bowl 130 may be formed from an opaque material, suchas plastic or metal.

As described herein the term “transparent” means that the bowl 130 isformed from a material that allows visible light to be transmittedtherethrough without appreciable scattering so that the internal volumeof the bowl may be seen so that approximately 100% of visible lightincident on the surface of the bowl 130 is transmitted therethrough. Theterm “substantially” used in combination with transparent implies thatthe small imperfections in transparency of the bowl 130 are tolerablesuch that the bowl 130 may be considered substantially transparent ifthe bowl allows more than 85% of the light incident on a surface of thebowl 130 to pass therethrough. As used herein, the word “translucent”implies that the bowl 130 is not completely transparent, but allows somelight to pass through, for example less than 85% of light incident onthe surface of the bowl 130 to pass therethrough. As used herein, theword “opaque” implies that the bowl 130 is not transparent ortranslucent and does not allow for visible light to pass through thesolid portions of the bowl 130.

A base of the bowl 130 may have a hemispherical or other curved orcontoured shape. Water, dirt, debris, organic matter, etc. may collectin the base of the bowl 130 and may be removed therefrom, as describedherein.

The bowl 130 may also comprise a bowl groove 138 positionedcircumferentially about an outer surface of the bowl 130 below the atleast one bowl male thread 136. For example, a pair of circumferentialprotrusions may be defined on the outer surface of the bowl 130. Thepair of circumferential protrusions may be separated by a predeterminedspace which forms the bowl groove 138. A sealing member 139 may bepositioned within the bowl groove 138 so as to provide a radial sealbetween the housing 102 and the bowl 130.

In some embodiments, the seal formed by the sealing member 139 maycomprise a “leak-tight” seal or a “substantially” leak-tight seal. Asused herein, the term “leak-tight” is understood to encompass both ahermetic seal (i.e., a seal that is gas-impervious) as well as a sealthat is liquid-impervious. The term “substantially” when used inconnection with “leak-tight” is intended to convey that, while totalfluid imperviousness is desirable, some minimal leakage due tomanufacturing tolerances, or other practical considerations (such as,for example, the pressure applied to the seal and/or within the fluid),can occur even in a “substantially leak-tight” seal.

As described above, a number of filter assemblies generally comprise anut plate positioned between a housing of the filter assembly and abowl. In contrast, the at least one female thread 108 of the housing 102of the filter assembly 100, and the at least one bowl male thread 136 ofthe bowl 130 allow direct coupling of the bowl 130 to the housing secondend 130 such that the filter assembly 100 does not comprise a nut platecoupling the housing 102 to the bowl 130.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3A-B, and 4, the bowl 130 further comprises a firstport 132 structured to receive a drain plug 140, and a second port 134structured to receive a water-in-fuel sensor 150. The first port 132 andsecond port 134 may have the same shape and size so that the drain plug140 and the water-in-fuel sensor 150 may be interchangeably inserted ineither one of the first port 132 or the second port 134. A drain cap 142may be coupled to the drain plug 140. The drain cap 142 may be removablycoupled to the first port 132 (e.g., via threads) so as to removablyposition the drain plug 140 within the first port 132. In somearrangements, the drain plug 140 is replaced with a drain valve that canbe manually or automatically operated to drain fluid that gathers in thebowl 130 (e.g., to drain water separated from fuel).

In various embodiments, the drain plug may comprise a plurality of drainplug clips 143. The drain plug clips 143 may be configured to engage arim of the first port 132 once the drain plug 140 is inserted into thefirst port 132, so as to prevent the drain plug 140 from beingcompletely removed from the first port 132 once the drain cap 142 isuncoupled (e.g., unscrewed) from the first port 132.

The water-in-fuel sensor 150 may comprise a humidity sensor, aresistivity sensor, a conductivity sensor, or any other suitable watersensor configured to determine if a water level collected in the bowl130, or included in a fluid (e.g., air, oil or fuel) passing through thefilter assembly 100 is above a predetermined level. The water-in-fuelsensor 150 also comprises an electronic coupler 152 positioned outsidethe internal volume defined by the bowl 130. The electronic coupler 152may be configured to be removably coupled to the second port (e.g., viathreads). The electronic coupler 152 is structured to allowcommunicative coupling of the water-in-fuel sensor 150 to a controller(e.g., an onboard diagnostic computing device) via electrical leads. Inother embodiments, the electronic coupler 152 may comprise a wirelesselectronic coupler configured to electronically couple the water-in-fuelsensor 150 to the controller via a wireless connection (e.g., aBLUETOOTH®, low powered BLUETOOTH®, ZigBee®, or Wi-Fi® connection) or awired connection (e.g., CANBUS, USB, J1939 vehicle bus, Ethernet, etc.).

The bowl 130 may further comprise a plurality of axial ribs 135 providedon an outer surface of the bowl, as shown in FIG. 3A. The plurality ofaxial ribs 135 may provide structural strength to the bowl 130 which mayallow reduction of an overall thickness of the sidewalls of the bowl130. The plurality of axial ribs 135 may also serve as grips tofacilitate a user in coupling and/or uncoupling of the bowl 130 from thehousing 102.

The filter element 110 is positioned within the internal volume of thehousing 102. The filter element 110 comprises a filter media 112, afirst end cap 160 coupled to a filter media first end 111 proximate tothe housing first end 101, and optionally, a second end cap 116 coupledto a filter media second end 113 proximate to the housing second end103. The filter media 112 comprises a porous material having apredetermined pore size and is configured to filter particulate matterfrom a fluid such as air flowing therethrough. The filter media 112 maycomprise pleated media, corrugated media, or variations thereof.

The filter media 112 may have a shape and size corresponding to a shapedefined by the internal volume of the housing 102 (e.g., a cylindricalshape having a circular cross-sectional). The filter media 112 maycomprise a filter core 114 having a filter channel, around which thefilter media 112 is positioned. The filter core 114 may comprise aplurality of apertures so as to allow the fluid (e.g., air, fuel, oiletc.) to flow into the filter channel after passing through the filtermedia 112. The filter core 114 may be formed from plastic, metals or anyother suitable material. In some embodiments, the filter channel may beconfigured to receive at least a portion of a center tube (not shown),for example from an engine configured to receive the fluid (e.g., air,fuel or lubricant) filtered by the filter media 112.

The first end cap 160 is coupled to the filter media first end 111. Thefirst end cap 160 may be formed from any suitable material, for exampleplastics, metals, rubber, reinforced rubber, polymers etc. The first endcap 160 may have a cross-sectional corresponding to the cross-sectionalof the housing 102.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first end cap 160 comprises a base 161and a first axial sidewall 162 extending from the base 161 towards thefilter media 112. The first axial sidewall 162 is positioned inwardlyfrom an outer edge of the base 161 of first end cap 160. For example thefirst axial sidewall 162 may comprise a circular sidewall extending fromthe base 161, and define a fluid outlet 167 about the longitudinal axisAL of the filter assembly 100, as shown in FIG. 8 . The center tube (notshown) may be positioned in the outlet 167 so as to provide an outletconduit for the filtered fluid to be expelled from the housing 102.

The first end cap 160 further comprises a second axial sidewall 164extending from the outer edge of the base 161 towards the filter media112. The second axial sidewall 164 is spaced apart from the first axialsidewall 162. The filter media first end 111 may be positioned betweenthe first axial sidewall 162 and the second axial sidewall 164. Forexample, the second axial sidewall 164 may be concentric with the firstaxial sidewall 162 and separated therefrom so that a circumferentialspace is defined between the first axial sidewall 162 and the secondaxial sidewall 164. The filter media first end 111 may be positioned inthe space between the first axial sidewall 162 and the second axialsidewall 164. In some embodiments, the filter media first end 111 may befixedly coupled to the base 161 of the first end cap 160, for examplevia an adhesive, heat bonded or fusion bonded to the first end cap 160.

A first end cap flange 166 is positioned about a periphery of the base161. The first end cap flange 166 extends from the base 161 away fromthe filter media 112. For example, the first end cap flange 166 maycomprise a circular sidewall extending from the base 161 away from thefilter media 112 about the periphery of the first end cap 160. In somearrangements, the first end cap flange 166 is circumferentially in linewith the second axial side wall 164. A protrusion 163 extends away fromthe outer surface of the first end cap flange 166. As described infurther detail below, the protrusion 163 prevents the filter element 110from being inserted too deep into the housing 102. Additionally, theprotrusion 163 forms a support surface for the first end sealing member170.

As shown in FIG. 5C, a first end sealing member 170 is positioned in aU-shaped channel 704 (shown in FIG. 7B) between an outer surface of thefirst end cap flange 166, and an inner surface of the housing first end101. The first end sealing member 170 forms a seal between the housing102 and the first end cap 160, for example a leak-tight seal. The firstend sealing member 170 may comprise a machine cut gasket having anysuitable cross-sectional, for example rectangular cross-sectional or acircular cross-sectional (e.g., an O-ring). In some arrangements, thefirst end sealing member 170 is a square cut gasket having a rectangularor square cross-sectional shape.

The housing 102 also comprises a housing ledge 107 positionedcircumferentially about the first end 101 of the housing 102 above theat least one male thread 106. The housing ledge 107 may extend into theinternal volume of the housing 102. For example, the housing ledge 107may comprise a circumferential ledge extending into the inner volume ofthe housing 102 from the housing first end 101. The housing ledge 107may be formed by molding (e.g., in arrangements where the housing 102 isa molded plastic housing), stamping (e.g., in arrangements where thehousing 102 is a metal component), or the like.

Moreover, the housing 102 may also comprise a housing flange 105positioned circumferentially about an outer periphery of the housingledge 107. The housing flange 105 extends axially away from the at leastone male thread 106 of the housing 102 parallel to the longitudinal axisAL such that the housing ledge 107 and the housing flange 105 define anL-shaped groove. At least a portion of the first end sealing member 170is positioned within the L-shaped groove.

The at least one male thread 106, the housing ledge 107 and the housingflange 105 may be molded into the housing 102. The housing ledge 107 maybe fabricated by molding a circumferential depression into the housingfirst end 101. The circumferential depression may comprise the radialhousing ledge 107 extending orthogonally from the housing 102 towardsthe internal volume of the housing 102, and an inclined sidewallextending from the housing ledge 107 towards the at least one malethread 106 of the housing 102, such that the circumferential depressionand the housing ledge 107 have a cross-sectional resembling the numeral“7.”

The first end cap flange 166 is positioned concentric with the housingflange 105 such that the housing flange 105, the housing ledge 107, theprotrusion 163, and the first end cap flange 166 define a U-shapedchannel 704 (shown in FIG. 7B) for receiving the first end sealingmember 170. The U-shaped channel 704 is formed by components of both thehousing 102 and the first end cap 160 of the filter element 110.

In some embodiments, the first end cap 160 may further comprises aprotrusion 163 extending from at least a portion of the first end capflange 166 towards the housing 102, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 6A. Theprotrusion 163 is engagable with a top surface of the housing ledge 107so as to limit insertion of the filter element 110 into the internalvolume defined by the housing 102 beyond a predetermined distance. Insome embodiments, the protrusion 163 may comprise a continuouscircumferential protrusion, thereby providing a stop ring for limitinginsertion of the filter element 110 into the internal volume of thehousing 102. In other embodiments, the first end cap 160 may comprise aplurality of protrusions 163 positioned at predetermined locations onthe first end cap flange 166 and extending radially therefrom.

The first end cap 160 may further comprise at least one clip 168positioned on the second axial sidewall 164 of the first end cap 160, asshown in FIG. 6B. The at least one clip 168 may be removably engagablewith the housing ledge 107, so as to removably secure the first end cap160, and thereby the filter element 110 within the housing 102. Forexample, the at least one clip 168 may be structured to engage a bottomsurface of the housing ledge 107, for example the inclined sidewallextending from the ledge 169 towards the at least one male thread 106 ofthe housing 102. In another embodiment, the filter element 110 may bepermanently secured within the housing 102. In some embodiments, thefirst end cap 160 may further comprise a fluid inlet 165 provided in thebase 161 adjacent to the second axial sidewall 164 and the fluid outlet167 (See FIGS. 8 and 9 ) defined within the first axial sidewall 162.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, cross-sectional views of assembling thefilter element 110 within the housing 102 are shown. As shown in FIG.7A, the filter element 110 is inserted into the housing 102 along thelongitudinal axis AL (the longitudinal axis AL is shown in FIG. 2A) inthe direction of the arrow 702. As the filter element 110 is insertedinto the housing 102, the clips 168 interact with the housing ledge 107and bend inwardly (e.g., towards the longitudinal axis AL). Once thepeak of the clip 168 passes the ridge formed by the housing ledge 107 ofthe housing 102, the filter element 110 slides into an installedposition, which is shown in FIG. 7B. The protrusion 163 positioned onthe first end cap flange 166 abut an upper surface of the housing ledge107, which prevents the filter element 110 from being inserted beyondthe installed position shown in FIG. 7B. In the installed position, agap exists between the second endcap 116 and a bottom of the housing 102(e.g., as shown in FIG. 2A). After the filter element 110 is positionedin the installed position within the housing 102, a U-shaped channel 704(in cross-sectional shape) is formed by the housing flange 105, thehousing ledge 107, the protrusion 163, and the first end cap flange 166.Accordingly, the U-shaped channel 704 is formed by components of boththe housing 102 and the filter element 110. The first end sealing member170 is then installed into the U-shape channel 704 along the directionof arrow 706. The first end sealing member 170 is shown in the installedposition in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

Referring to FIG. 9 , a perspective view of the first end cap 160 isshown. As shown in FIG. 9 , the first end cap 160 includes a main body902 having a central fluid outlet 167. The main body 902 includes thefirst end cap flange 166 that forms an outer circumference of the firstend cap 160. In some arrangements, the first end cap flange 166 includesa plurality of vertical ridges 904 that extend outwardly from the outersurface of the first end cap flange 166. The vertical ridges 904 help tosecure the first end sealing member 170 in the U-shaped channel 704. Thefirst end cap 160 includes the protrusion 163 that forms a portion ofthe bottom of the U-shaped channel 704. In some arrangements, theprotrusion 163 extends around the entire circumference of the first endcap flange 166. In other arrangements, the protrusion 163 does notextend around the entire circumference of the first end cap flange 166and is broken adjacent to the plurality of clips 168. The breaks in theprotrusion 163 provided additional flexibility to the clips 168 suchthat the clips 168 can flex during the installation process of thefilter element 110 into the housing 102 (e.g., as described above withrespect to FIGS. 7A and 7B). To provided added flexibility to the clips168, the second axial sidewall 164 of the first end cap 160 may includea plurality of cutaways 906 positioned on opposing sides of each clip168. As discussed above with respect to FIG. 8 , the main body 902 alsoincludes a plurality of fluid inlets 165. In some arrangements, an innerseal (not shown) can be overmolded onto a plurality of tabs 908surrounding the central fluid outlet 167. In other arrangements, themain body 902 does not include the plurality of tabs 908, and an innerseal is positioned where the tabs 908 are shown in FIG. 9 . In sucharrangements, the inner seal may be a square cut gasket having a similarcross section to the first end sealing member 170 (as described above).

Referring to FIG. 5C, a filter head 180 may be removably coupled to thehousing first end 101 of the housing 102. The filter head 180 comprisesa filter head base 182, an opening 186 provided in the filter head base182 (e.g., to receive a center tube), and a filter head sidewall 184extending from an outer periphery of the filter head base 182 towardsthe housing 102. At least one female thread 185 is provided on an innersurface of the filter head sidewall 184. The at least one female thread185 of the filter head 180 is configured to engage the at least one malethread 106 so as to removably couple the filter head 180 to the housingfirst end 101.

In some embodiments, a circumferential groove 187 is defined on thefilter head base 182, for example on a first surface of the filter headbase 182 of the filter head 180 facing the first end cap 160. Thecircumferential groove 187 is structured to receive at least a portionof the first end sealing member 170, such that the first end sealingmember 170 may seal each of the housing 102, the first end cap 160 andthe filter head 180. The filter head sidewall 184 may also exert aradial force onto the first end 101 of the housing 102 which may pushthe housing flange 105 towards the first end sealing member 170 and thefirst end cap, thereby enhancing the sealing provided by the first endsealing member 170.

In some embodiments, a housing of a filter assembly may be formed tointegrally comprise a bowl shaped base so that a separate detachablebowl as described with respect to the filter assembly 100 is notrequired. For example, FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view, and FIG.11 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a filter assembly200. The filter assembly 200 comprises a housing 202, the filter element110 as described before with respect to the filter assembly 100, afilter head first portion 280, and a filter head second portion 290.

The housing 202 defines an internal volume within which the filterelement 110 is positioned. The housing 202 may be formed from a strongand rigid material, for example plastics (e.g., polypropylene, highdensity polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, etc.), metals (e.g., aluminum,stainless steel, etc.), polymers (e.g., reinforced rubber, silicone) orany other suitable material. In particular embodiments, the housing 202may comprise a cylindrical housing having generally a circularcross-sectional. In other embodiments, the housing 202 may have anysuitable shape, for example square, rectangular, polygonal, etc.

The housing 202 comprises a housing top or first end 201 and a housingbottom or second end 203. The housing first end 201 comprises aplurality of male threads 206. The housing first end 201 may besubstantially similar to the housing first end 101 of the housing 102and, therefore not described in further detail herein. The housingsecond end 203 comprises a housing base 208 integrally formed with thehousing 102. At least one port 240 may be defined in the housing base208 so as to receive a drain plug (e.g., the drain plug 140) and/or thewater-in-filter sensor (e.g., the water-in-fuel sensor 150). The housingbase 208 may be flat, or otherwise curved or contoured to resemble abowl. The housing base 208 may serve as a reservoir for collectingwater, dirt, debris, etc. so that a separate bowl (e.g., the bowl 130)is not used in the filter assembly 200.

A plurality of axial indentations 204 or depressions may be defined onan outer surface of the housing first end 203 parallel to a longitudinalaxis AL of the housing 202. For example, the plurality of indentations204 may comprise axial indentations defined circumferentially about thehousing second end 203 with any suitable spacing between each adjacentindentation (i.e., positioned at any suitable pitch). The plurality ofindentations 204 may serve to facilitate gripping of the housing 202 forcoupling and/or uncoupling the filter assembly 100, for example to anengine block of an engine, and/or provide structural strength to thehousing 102.

The filter element 110 is positioned within the internal volume definedby the housing 102. A center pipe or tube 218 may be positioned withinat least a portion of a filter channel defined by the filter element110. The center tube 218 may be coupled to the filter head secondportion 290, for example fluidly coupled to a fluid outlet defined inthe filter head second portion 290, and serve to provide an outlet forfiltered fluid to be removed from the filter assembly 200.

Referring to FIGS. 10-12 , the filter head first portion 280 isremovably coupled to the housing first end 201. The filter head firstportion 280 comprises a filter head first portion sidewall 284 defininga circular ring like structure configured to be positioned around thehousing first end 201. At least one female thread 285 is defined on aninner surface of the filter head first portion sidewall 284. The atleast one female thread 285 is configured to engage the at least onemale thread 206 of the housing 202 so as to removably couple the filterhead first portion 280 to the housing first end 201.

A plurality of arms 286 (e.g., a pair of arms 286 as shown in FIGS.10-11 ) are coupled to the filter head first portion sidewall 284, andextend away therefrom. Each of the plurality of arms 286 defines atleast one aperture 287. A fastener (e.g., a screw, bolt, rivet, pin,etc.) may be inserted through the aperture 287 so as allow coupling ormounting of the filter assembly 200 onto a structure (e.g., a frame oran engine block).

The filter head second portion 290 is positioned over the first end cap260 secured to the housing first end 201 via the filter head firstportion 280. In this manner, the filter head first portion 280 and thefilter head second portion 290 cooperatively define a filter head of thefilter assembly 200. The filter head second portion 290 may be formedfrom a different material then the filter head first portion 280. Forexample, the filter head first portion 280 may be formed from a metal(e.g., aluminum, stainless steel, alloys, etc.), and the filter headsecond portion 290 may be formed from a plastic, or polymer.

The filter head second portion 290 may comprise a circumferentialprojection 292 extending outwardly from an outer periphery of the filterhead second portion 290. Furthermore, the filter head first portion 280comprises a filter head first portion flange 282 extending orthogonallyfrom a first end of the filter head first portion 280. The filter headfirst portion flange 282 may be located proximate to the filter headsecond portion 290 and extends towards the filter head second portion290.

The filter head first portion flange 282 is structured to overlap andengage the circumferential projection 292 of the filter head secondportion 290 so as to secure the filter head second portion 290 on thehousing first end 201 over the first end cap 160 of the filter element110. The filter head first portion flange 282 may also compress thecircumferential projection 292 of filter housing second portion 290towards the first end sealing member 170 positioned in the U-shapedgroove define by the housing first end 201 and the first end cap 160, aspreviously described in detail herein, so as to ensure a seal (e.g., aleak-tight or substantially leak-tight seal) between the filter headsecond portion 290, the housing 202 and the first end cap 160. In someembodiments, a circumferential groove may be defined on a first surfaceof the filter head second portion 290 facing the first end cap 160. Thecircumferential groove may be located proximate to the circumferentialprojection 292 and structured to receive at least portion of the firstend sealing member 170.

The filter head second portion 290 further comprises an inlet forreceiving an unfiltered fluid (e.g., air, oil, fuel, etc.) andcommunicates the fluid to the filter media 112 via the fluid inlet 165provided in the first end cap 160. A thermostat 294 and a heater 296 maybe positioned in the filter head second portion 290. The thermostat 294may comprise, for example a thermistor, a bimetallic strip, asemi-conductor thermostat or any other suitable thermostat. Thethermostat 294 may be operatively coupled to a temperature sensorconfigured to sense a temperature of the fluid entering the filterhousing second portion 290.

The heater 296 may comprise a solid state heater, a sandwich heater orany other suitable heater. The thermostat 294 may be operatively coupledto the heater 296 and may be configured to activate the heater 296 whenthe temperature of the fluid flowing into the filter assembly 200 dropsbelow a predetermined temperature so as to heat the fluid. In someembodiments, the thermostat 294 and the heater 296 may be configured tomaintain the temperature of the fluid flowing into the filter assembly200 within a predetermined range.

The center tube 218 may be coupled to the filter housing second portion290 such that when the filter housing second portion 290 is positionedon the housing first end 201, the center tube 218 is positioned withinthe filter channel. The filter housing second portion 290 may alsocomprise one or more fluid outlets 299 (FIG. 11 ). The center tube 218may be fluidly coupled to the fluid outlets 299 and structured tocommunicate filtered fluid received from the filter media 112 to thefluid outlets 299 so as to be communicated to a point of use.

It should be noted that the term “example” as used herein to describevarious embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments arepossible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possibleembodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that suchembodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).

The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like as used herein mean thejoining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Suchjoining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removableor releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or thetwo members and any additional intermediate members being integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two membersor the two members and any additional intermediate members beingattached to one another.

It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of thevarious exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a fewembodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, thoseskilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciatethat many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes,dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements,values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Othersubstitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made inthe design, operating conditions and arrangement of the variousexemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

While this specification contains many specific implementation details,these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of anyinventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions offeatures specific to particular implementations of particularinventions. Certain features described in this specification in thecontext of separate implementations can also be implemented incombination in a single implementation. Conversely, various featuresdescribed in the context of a single implementation can also beimplemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitablesubcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above asacting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, oneor more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excisedfrom the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to asubcombination or variation of a subcombination.

What is claimed is:
 1. A filter assembly, comprising: a housing definingan internal volume, a housing second end of the housing defining atleast one female thread; and a bowl positioned at the housing secondend, the bowl comprising at least one bowl male thread structured toengage the at least one female thread of the housing so as to be coupledthereto, the bowl comprising a port; wherein a portion of a sidewall ofthe housing at the housing second end is folded inwards and positionedwithin the internal volume of the housing.
 2. The filter assembly ofclaim 1, further comprising a filter element positioned within theinternal volume of the housing.
 3. The filter assembly of claim 1,wherein the housing comprises a plurality of indentations provided on anouter surface of the housing second end.
 4. The filter assembly of claim3, wherein the housing comprises at least one housing male threadprovided on the outer surface of a housing first end of the housingopposite the housing second end.
 5. The filter assembly of claim 3,wherein the portion of the sidewall is parallel to the plurality ofindentations.
 6. The filter assembly of claim 5, wherein the portion ofthe sidewall is positioned such that a gap is defined between theplurality of indentations and the portion of the sidewall.
 7. The filterassembly of claim 5, further comprising a ledge extending from an end ofthe portion of the sidewall towards a longitudinal axis of the filterassembly, the ledge positioned within the internal volume of the housingand defining the at least one female thread.
 8. The filter assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the bowl comprises a bowl groove positionedcircumferentially about an outer surface of the bowl below the at leastone bowl male thread.
 9. The filter assembly of claim 8, furthercomprising a sealing member positioned within the bowl groove so as toprovide a seal between the housing and the bowl.
 10. The filter assemblyof claim 1, wherein the port is structured to receive a drain plug or adrain valve.
 11. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the port isstructured to receive a water-in-filter sensor.
 12. The filter assemblyof claim 1, wherein the bowl further comprises a plurality of axial ribsprovided on an outer surface of the bowl.
 13. The filter assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the bowl is formed of at least one of a translucent ora transparent material.
 14. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein theat least one female thread is inwardly facing towards the internalvolume.
 15. A shell housing for a filter element, the shell housingcomprising: a sidewall having a first end and a second end, the sidewalldefining an internal volume configured to receive the filter element,and a portion of the sidewall at the second end is folded inwards andpositioned within the internal volume; the first end comprising at leastone outwardly facing male thread configured to removably secure theshell housing to a filter head; the second end comprising at least oneinwardly facing female thread configured to removably secure a bowl tothe second end.
 16. The shell housing of claim 15, wherein the sidewallhas a circular cross-sectional shape.
 17. The shell housing of claim 15,wherein the shell housing further comprises a plurality of indentationsformed on an outer surface of the sidewall and the portion of thesidewall is parallel to the plurality of indentations.
 18. The shellhousing of claim 17, wherein the portion of the sidewall is positionedsuch that a gap is defined between the plurality of indentations and theportion of the sidewall.
 19. The shell housing of claim 17, furthercomprising a ledge extending from an end of the portion of the sidewalltowards a longitudinal axis of the shell housing, the ledge positionedwithin the internal volume of the housing and defining the at least onefemale thread.
 20. The shell housing of claim 17, wherein the portion ofthe sidewall comprises the at least one inwardly facing female thread.